Car coupling and supporting apparatus



A, J. BAZELLEY CAR COUFLINC SUPPORTING APPARATUS Original Fild Dec. 5, 1935 6 Shams-Smet (12mm Jay. Amm;

)WMM @my .Hamm

March 18, 1941. A. J. BAZELEY 6 swam-Smm 2 www@ l" GAR GOUPLING AND SUPPORTING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 5, 1935 6 Smets-Shea?. 5

A. J. BAZELEY Original Filed Dec.

attorney Jwley l dey.

CAR COUPLING ANN SUPPORTING APEAHTUS 19 W41 A. J. @Mmmm 2,2%137 i CAR COUPLINT AND SUPPORTING APPARATUS Drignal Filed Dec.. 5. 18.935 E5 shewtwhemt 4 (Ittorneg Mmmm mm WM; M. J. @Mmmm mmm CAW GQ'UFLENG AND SUPPORTING APFARMFUS Original Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED ST PATENT OFFICE CHUR. COUPLING AND SUPPORTING APPARATUS Arthur J. Bazeley, deceased, late of Shaker Heights, Ohio, by

Ruth McKean Bazeley,

exccutrix, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to National Malleable and Steel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in car couplers and more particularly to a car coupler which may be tightly locked to another coupler of the same construction in order to substantially 5 eliminate coupler slack, and to facilitate the automatic connection of hose lines, electric cables and the like wihen two cars are coupled together. By the use of such automatic connectors, the necessity and attendant dangers of having a person crawl in between two cars to connect or disconnect these lines are also eliminated.

One difliculty encountered in providing a practical tight-lock coupler resides in the fact that a certain amount of lateral and vertical angling must be made possible between two cars so that too great a strain will not be placed on the coupler head and knuckle whenl a train is traveling on a curved or graded track.' This angling is largely taken care of with the Standard E coupier having a 10A contour by the shape of the coupler heads and knuckles. Thus, according to present usage, the Shanks of two couplers in coupled relationship may be angled both vertically and laterally with respect to each other. With a coupler tightly locked to a Similar coupier, angling at the coupler faces is impossible and, in any case, hinders the use of automatic train line connectors.

One feature of this invention, therefore, .resides in an improved coupler shank mounting or carrier construction by means of which the coupler shanks may be angled both vertically and laterally with respect to the car carrying the same. A particular feature of the improved carrier resides in the provision of resilient means for resisting movement of the coupler shank in any direction.

A further object of this invention is to provide a centralizing mechanism adapted to be mounted on the car intermediate the ends of the coupler shank, whereby the coupler in uncoupled position is maintained in a position in which it is readily enabled to engage another coupler.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coupler and knuckle adapted to cooperate with a similar coupler in such a manner that the two knuckle noses may be tightly interlocked and the knuckle faces may also be pressed directly against the opposing coupler faces. As a practical matter, it is impossible to immediately change existing coupling equipment on railways replacing all of such equipment with this improved tight-lock coupler. A particular and very important feature of this invention, therefore,

resides in the provision of a tight-lock coupler having the advantages described above when coupled with a similar tight-lock coupler, and which is also adapted for coupling with equipment now in use, such as the Standard E coupler having a 10A contour. This Standard E coupler with the 10A contour will hereafter be referred to as a normal coupler or a normal contour.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a coupler with a knuckle having a contour intermediate the contour of the tight-lock coupler and the normal or 10A contour, which may be termed a semi-tight coupler. Such a semi-tight coupler is adapted to cooperate with normal couplers, another semi-tight coupler or the improved tight-lock coupler. This semi-tight coupler is designed to take care of vertical and lateral angling, in part at the coupler face, and in part by means of the connection between the coupler shank and the car. Thus by using cou-f 20 plers in accordance with this invention proper vertical and lateral angling may be obtained under all conditions.

The above features and advantages may be better understood in connection with the accon1 panying drawings. In addition, several con structional features, objects and advantages of this invention, which have not been mentioned above, will be pointed out in connection with the following description of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View, partly in section, showing a tight-lock coupler attached to a vertical yoke of a draft gear in a car and also illustrating the improved eXible carrier of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the assembly shown in Figure 1 with parts of the carrier and related members being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing a coupler shank swivelly attached to a draft rigging provided with a horizontal yoke.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section of the assembly shown in Figure 3, with some of the parts in elevation and taken on the offset line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a front view of the iiexible carrier and striking casting as viewed from the left-hand side of Figure 4, with the coupler shank and parts of the carrier and striking casting being shown in cross section.

Figure 6 is a. detailed side elevation of the striking casting assembly as viewed from the right side of Figure 5, illustrating the forward end of the draft sill, the cheek plate, the carrier assembly, and associated parts.

Figure '7 is a vertical detailed cross section, taken on the line -l of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a plan view illustrating a modication of the invention showing a tight-lock coupler, with a rigid shank mounting, and a novel carrier therefor.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the assembly of Figure 8 taken on the line 9 l thereof with the modified coupler shank support shown in cross section.

Figure 10 is enlarged view, taken on the line ill-lt of Figure 9, showing the coupler shank and supporting members in section and the other related parts in elevation.

Referring more particularly to the assembly illustrated in Figures l and 2, numeral 2G indicates the center sill of a car, in which a draft gear 2i of the friction type is suitably mounted. One end of this draft. gear is provided with a member 22 which bears against a follower block 23, mounted for sliding movement between the vertically disposed arms 24 of the yoke Yoke 25 is also provided with a pair of horizontally disposed arms 2S having key slots 2l. Suitably connected to this draft gear yoke, as 'by key Si, is a coupler shank 28 carrying a coupler head 29. Attached to the sides of the sill near the end thereof are supporting brackets S6 having the inner ends 3l projecting inwardly to limit forward movement of the follower block 23. These brackets are preferably made integral with carrier supports E? adapted to support. a striking casting 32, a carrier iron and a carrier spring support St, together with a pair of lateral coupler shank buffers 35, for yieldingly supporting the coupler while allowing vertical and lateral angling between the coupler shank and the center sill of the car. rlhe bracket 35, suitably reinforced by lugs 36a., serves to guide and limit downward movement of the striking casting as referred to hereafter; numeral indicates the end sill of the car.

The carrier assemblies which support the coupler shank are best shown in Figures l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The striking casting Si?, may be supported by a carrier bracket or cheek plate such as is shown at 3? in Figures l and 2 in which a vertical yoke is used or at S3 in Figures 3, ll, 5, 6 '7 in which a horizontal yoke is used. The cheek plates Eil or 5S may be made integral with the carrier supports 5l, and are secured to the car sills by the rivets tit'.

The striking casting 32, the carrier iron 33, the carrier spring support 3&5, and the carrier supports 6'! may be all held in assembled relation o means of the bolts 'iii and the nuts ll. A rectangular opening .is thereby provided between the two carrier supports 6l, the striking casting 32, and the carrier iron t3, adapted to receive the coupler shank 28. This opening is preferably proportioned so that only a very limited vertical movement of the coupler shank is possible without contacting either the carrier iron or the striking casting, while considerable space is left for lateral movement of the coupler shank be- .tween the two supports 6l. Free lateral movenient of the coupler and shank is desirable to facilitate coupling on a curve. Supports 6l may be provided with dowels l2 at the top thereof adapted to be seated in the recessed end portions 'I3 of the striking casting 32 so that the latter may be moved upwardly in sliding engagement therewith.

The ca rier iron 33 and the carrier spring support 34 are assembled a single coinpressible unit. The carrier iron has a top surface lll which may .be made of wear esistant metal to support the coupler shank. A recess 'l5 is formed in the central portion of this top surface to receive the head l5 of the bolt ll' which, with the nut '18, holds the carrier iron and carrier spring support together. Bolt ll passes through a downwardly flared opening 'I9 in the carrier iron and through an opening in the upwardly tending central section 8i) of the carrier spring support 34.

The lower surface cf the carrier iron is preferably recessed on each side of the Abelt 'll' as shown at Si and is provided with downwardly extending flanges S2 which denne seats for the springs t3. The carrier spring support is formed with pockets 84 which provide seats for the lower ends of these springs 33. Suitable dowels 85 may be provided in these pockets, if desired, to insure retention of the springs 33 in their correct position. Bolts 'it pass through fiared openings in the carrier iron and flared openings lll in the carrier spring support so that either of these members will be free to slide up or down the bolt without stressing it. Hence, the assembly comprising the carrier iron and carrier spring support is supported by the heads of the bolts le, and the carrier iron is adapted to move downwardly against the action of the springs 83, being guided by the bolts Til. Smlliarly, the carrier spring support may move upwardly in a fixed path against the action of the springs 83. The carrier iron is preferably provided with vertical depending end walls S3 and side walls fifi, which be tapered, to receive the carrier spring support upon compression of the springs 83 in telescoping relationship.

The striking casting is preferably provided with an upwardly extending ange 9i! having a horizontal top portion Si. The flange @il is arranged to bear against the bracket 36, thereby further limiting downward movement of the striking casting with respect to the center sill and providing a vertical guiding surface for the striking casting.

Supports 6l' are preferably formed with intcgral Cylinder portions Sli adapted to receive the plungers 93 which comprise the lateral guides or buffers 35 for the coupler shank. Safety ybrackets S5 are preferably attached by bolts 96 to depending bracket arms 94 which are also formed integral with Ahe cylinders 92 and the supports 67. These safety brackets may be L- shaped and formed with a main rib El and flanges t8 with the lower portion of the L extending underneath the bolts lll. If desirable these safety brackets may be formed with a lug on one side in such a position that it would interfere with the application of the bracket except in the proper position. Thus, in the event of a failure of the bolts '153, or of nuts "if becoming loosened, the coupler shank will be prevented from falling downwardly, and will be maintained in the correct position until the necessary repairs can be effected.

Referring more particularly to Figures 3, 5, 6 and 7, it may be seen that the cylinders 92 are formed with openings 99 in the outer ends thereof. These cylinders are adapted to carry boltshaped members having a head I and a. hollow cylindrical shank |04. The heads of these mern` essaie? bers act as spring seats and the Shanks thereof incooperation with the walls of the cylinder 92 as guides for the springs |02. Buer plungers 93 are inserted in the openings |03 in the sides of the supports 01, and are formed with piston-like end sections |04 of reduced cross section adapted totelescope into the hollow shanks |l. These end sections |04 are preferably also hollow and provided with an opening through which the bolts |05 may be passed, so that the nuts |06 in cooperation therewith may maintain the buffers 93 and the bolt-shaped members as a unit under cornpression of the springs |02. Compression of these members against the springs |02 is limited by the abutments |01 on the buffers 93 which are arranged to strike the ends of the shanks |0| just before the springs go solid. Buffers 93 are preferably formed with wings |08 and |09 of different size, which may be inserted in the correspondingly sized openings |0 yand in the side walls of lthe supports 01. The buffers 93 can thereby be inserted in only the correct way.

These buffer units may be assembled separately and inserted as units in cylinders 92. After insertion of the wing projections |08 and |09 through their respective openings the buffer assemblies may be rotated 90, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 7, the wings |00 and |09 traveling in slots ||2. This brings the elongated slots |3 of the plungers 93 into a vertical position (see Fig. 3) so that the bolts 10 may be passed therethrough, to retain the buffers against rotation and to hold the buffer assemblies in their respective cylinders. The outer ends of the buffer elements may be curved, as at H4, to cooperate with the shank of the coupler which may be flared at about this point. These buffer elements also preferably have cut-out or notched portions, as at H5, to provide for receiving the ends of the yoke arms when the draft gear is under compression. The notches ||5 are preferably suiciently large to keep the yoke arms from striking the plungers 93. By the use of wings |00 and |09 of different size, the plungers can only be inserted with the openings ||5 in the correct position.

In the operation of this coupler shank supporting structure, the shank is free to move longitudinally within the usual limits except as it may be restrained by the draft gear. The plungers 93 compressed against the springs |02 serve to yieldingly urge the coupler Shanks into a substantially central position. When the shank is lifted with respect to the car, the striking casting is lifted thereby and acts through the bolts 13 to lift the carrier spring support 34. The carrier iron 33 is prevented from moving upwardly by the supports 61, and hence the springs 03 are compressed, tending to exert a resilient pull upon the top of the coupler shank through the supporting bolts 1 0 and casting 32 and cause it to return into the central position. When the coupler shank is moved downwardly with respect to the car, the carrier spring support is rigidly maintained in position by the bolts and the carrier iron moves downwardly, again compressing the springs 03. It is apparent, therefore, that in the improved supporting structure of this invention, a single pair of springs is used to oppose resiliently vertical movement of the coupler shank in either direction.

As previously mentioned, the improved iiexible carrier arrangement and swivel butt of this invention may =be employed.' in connection with draft gear equipment embodying a horizontal yoke, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, having the usual horizontally disposed yoke arms H0, surrounding a draft gear lll, of any desirable construction. Attached to the forward end of the draft gear, as by draft gear bolts H0, is a front follower block M0 having suitable reinforcing ribs on the top and bottom thereof and provided with a pair of horizontally disposed arms |2l. This follower block is arranged to slide between the yoke arms lit, and is provided with an uninterrupted vertically curved surface |22, adapted to cooperate with a similarly curved surface on a radial butt piece. A key slot in the coupler shank is adapted to receive the key 6| which seats in suitable slots |23 in .the yoke arms H0. Forward motion of the front follower block H0 is limited by a key |20, which seats in the relatively tight itting slot |25 in the follower block and in elongated slots |26 in the yoke arms liti and the elongated slots |21 in the cheek plates |20. With, such an arrangement the coupler shank acts on the yoke arms ||6 through the key 0| to move the rear end of the yoke and draft gear forwardly. Key |24 holds the forward end of the draft gear against movement, thus compressing the springs. shank acts directly on the follower block ||9 and causes it to compress directly the draft gear springs. The rear endI of the draft gear may be held against movement during buff by a third key, stop lugs, or in any other suitable manner. 'L

Attached to the center sill 20 of the car are two sets of cheek plates 00 and |20. Cheek plates 6B are integral with the carrier supports 61. The two sets of cheek plates` define slots and provide supports for the keys 0| and |24. Key |24 mayy',

be held in place by a pin |29 having a suitable handle portion |30.

The swivel butt connection referred to above On buff, the coupler is described in more detail and is claimed in a separate divisional application Ser. No. 221,529, filed July 27, 1938.

In Figures 8-10 are illustrated a simplified arrangement for supporting resiliently a tight-lock or semitight coupler of this invention for use in passenger service, in which vertical angling conditions are not as extreme as in freight service because of the employment of humps in classiflcation yards.

ln this modification of the invention, the coupler shank |3|, carrying the coupler head |32, may be pivotally attached to a suitable draft gear |33 for angling laterally with respect to the draft gear, but not vertically to any substantial extent. The butt end of the shank may be bifurcated to provide a pair of arms |34, having horizontally curved bearing surfaces |35. The forward end of the yoke |3311 may be provided with a pair of spaced arms and |31 and with a centrally disposed arm |30 arranged to form two openings to receive the arms |34 of the coupler butt. These members may be suitably secured together in pivotal relation by a pin |39, which also extends through the boss |40. A smaller pin or key lfil may be passed through the boss |l0 and pin |39 to retain the same in place and this key in turn is held by a suitable bendable cotter pin |02.

Thus, the coupler shank is free to angle laterally with respect to the draft gear, but provision is not intended to be made for vertical angling at this point. Adequate provision for vertical angling, however, is made in this arrangement since the draft gear itself may be tipped about its center, against the action of its springs, so

that angling may take place to the extent indicated by the lines |43.

The shank is supported intermediate its ends by a rigid carrier iron |44, which is preferably rmly attached to the car |45. This carrier iron may advantageously be made in the shape of an H beam, as illustrated in Figure 9, with one side of the H forming an upper bearing surface |46, upon which a wear shoe |47 has a sliding engagement. This wear shoe has depending side flanges N8 which embrace the edges of the top portion of the carrier iron IM and hold it in operative engagement therewith. Suitable sockets |49 and |50, preferably integral therewith, may be provided near each end of this wear shoe to carry or support pipes, or other train lines. Automatic -train line connectors may be readily employed therewith when this carrier structure is used in conjunction with the improved tight-lock coupler.

The central portion of the wear shoe |47 is provided with an opening defined by side walls |5| and a slightly raised bottom wall |52 for receiving the coupler shank |3| and allowing the same to have a free longitudinal movement. By using a raised bottom wall |52, the weight of the coupler is more uniformly distributed throughout the length of the wear shoe It?. A suitable wear resistant member |53, in the form of a channel section, may be placed over the base |52 to provide a wear resistant surface |55 for supporting the coupler shank. 'A suitable wear shoe |55 may be resiliently mounted in a lower portion of the coupler shank |3| to support the coupler shank on the wear resistant member |53. The shoe |55 is preferably provided with outwardly extending foot portions |53, of suitable wear resistant metal, to bear against the plate |53 and with end walls |51 for sliding engagement with the walls |58 at the front an-d rear sides of the opening in 'the under side of the coupler shank. The walls |58 may be suitably strengthened by ribs |53. Springs |69 are preferably retained in position within the coupler shank by dowels |5| on vthe lower surface of the top wall of the coupler shank and by the recesses |52 in the top of the wear shoe |55. The wear shoe |55 and the springs |60 may be held assembled with the coupler shank |3| by suitable bolts |53.

The side walls of the coupler shank are preferably strengthened by thickening, yas at |64, to compensate for the wear shoe opening in its bottom wall. Thus, the coupler and coupler shank are resiliently supported on the slidable Wear shoe |48, which in turn is supported on the carrier iron M4. Such a supporting arrangement allows a considerable amount of lateral angling between two cars, as indicated in Fig. 8, by the lines |65. This form of carrier structure provides relatively small parts for receiving the frictional wear. Such parts may be economically made of special wear resistant metals.

This application is a division of application Serial Number 53,012 filed December 5, 1935, by Arthur J. Bazeley issued as Patent No. 2,178,062, Oct. 31, 1939.

The terms and expressions which have been employed Iare used as terms of description and not of limitation, and is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that van'- ous modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

It is claimed:

l. A car coupler having a hollow shank, a wea shoe for supporting the shank tted into and guided by the sides of `an opening in only one wall of said shank in telescoping relation therewith, spring means between an inner wall of said shank and said wear shoe, and adjustable means for holding said wear shoe within a predetermined distance from said inner wall.

2. A car coupler having a shank formed of top,

bottom and side walls, said bottom wall having an opening therein and said top wall above said opening forming a spring seat, reinforcing means on the interior of said shank adjacent said opening, a supporting member extending into said opening and guided by portions of said reinforcing means, spring means between said seat and said member, and a bolt for holding said shank, spring means and supporting member in assembled position while permitting compression of said spring means.

RUTH MCKEAN BAZELEY, Eecutria: of the Estate of Arthur J. Bazeley,

Deceased. 

